In an article to be published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, two British astronomers present new numerical simulations of how planetary systems form. They find that, in the early stages of planetary formation, giant protoplanets migrate inward in lockstep into the central star.
The current picture of how planetary systems form is as follows: i) dust grains coagulate to form planetesimals of up to 1 km in diameter; ii) the runaway growth of planetesimals leads to the formation of
Project E! 2408 on Arctic Tourism had the ambitious target of mapping the effects tourism has already had on Arctic areas and pointing the way to tourism development without threatening the delicate ecosystem. Four widely differing locations within the Nordic Arctic region showed traditional reliance on just a few economic activities, making them vulnerable to unemployment. Project results demonstrate that tourism can offer a new source of local jobs in the Arctic region, provided it is develope
A project supported by the European Space Agency has combined satellite multicasting techniques and improved content management to enhance information delivery for education .
The use of information and communications technology in schools all over Europe is on the increase. Although the various Ministries of Education have set up networks that offer recommendations on content, as well as advice and support to educators, challenges still remain in the take-up of information techn
A satellite-based rapid mapping service developed to support civil defence activities in eastern France is ready and on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The pioneering service has been designed to manage flood events – the world’s most widespread category of natural disaster.
As well as being applied to risk assessment and prevention efforts, the ESA-backed Flood Plain Monitoring Service aims to deliver map products to end users within six hours during times of crisis, gi
A new study from the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center at the Norwegian School of Sports Sciences (NSSS) shows that six out of ten head injuries in alpine skiers and snowboarders can be prevented by using a ski helmet.
The Alpine Operators Association and Martina Hansens Hospital contributed information about 3,277 injured alpine skiers and snowboarders during the course of the 2002 winter season at eight of the larger alpine ski areas in Norway
Snowboarders running
Particulate emissions from diesel engines are currently measured by smoke darkness in motor vehicle inspections. This method is particularly unsuitable for measurement of the smallest particles, which are considered as being the most dangerous. There are over 100,000 vehicle inspection stations in Europe using smoke darkness to measure particulate emissions.
The authorities have noticed the shortcomings in measuring diesel smoke in this way and have been fervently seeking new met
Four proposals have been honoured in the subsidy programme ’Medium Investments Social Sciences’. A total of 950,000 euros has been awarded. The projects are an international study into integration, a magnetic laboratory for brain research, a computer for genetic analyses and virtual reality as a trial area for psychological experiments.
The programme for medium-sized investments covers subsidies for the purchase of equipment and for the setting up of data collections, associat
A new Finnish innovation efficiently removes cigarette smoke and provides clean air directly to a workstation. The personal clean air system has been developed in Tekes Fine Technology Programme.
Oy Lifa Air Ltd. product development seeks to innovate effective ventilation and air purifying solutions for smoking areas. For example, in Sweden, where smoking in restaurants is prohibited by law, the new Lifa air conditioning systems have been installed in approximately 30 restaurants
New research at the University of Liverpool suggests that environmental contaminants, such as pesticides, are more influential in causing cancer than previously thought.
Previous studies in cancer causation have often concluded that exposure to carcinogenic or endocrine-disrupting chemicals, for example, organochlorines (OC) – found in pesticides and plastics – occurs at concentrations that are too low to be considered a major factor in cancerous disease. Now new research at th
Many women with fertility problems could have a significantly better chance of having a baby if modern IVF techniques are combined with more traditional surgical interventions, according to a leading fertility specialist.
Mr TC Li, Honorary Professor at Sheffield Hallam University, says that surgical techniques should be used alongside IVF more often, especially for women who have repeatedly failed to conceive using IVF alone.
He explained in a lecture at Sheffield Hallam
In the Netherlands school-aged children in the age range 5 to 16 years no longer participating in any form of education is an increasingly frequent phenomenon. Children who are absent from school for a period of two months or more are referred to as long-term truants. On behalf of NWO, Theo van Batenburg and his colleagues investigated the number of long-term truants, their characteristics and the underlying causes of this absenteeism. The report has recently been published.
Each year
Why do so many companies fail to make use of the energy-saving technologies which are available? Dutch researcher Mark Koetse used a meta-analysis of various empirical studies to assess the relevance of two possible explanations.
Meta-analysis is a research method that has been gradually gaining ground within economics since the mid-1980s. The doctoral research of Mark Koetse focused on the problems associated with this methodology. That is why in his thesis he described the ne
“The platform provided by the European Commission’s recently launched Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources1 creates a welcome opportunity for business to contribute directly to the goals of EU environment policy”, says Dr. Kevin Bradley, Director-General of the Alliance for Beverage Cartons and the Environment (ACE).
Commenting ahead of an important EU conference on natural resources2 Dr. Bradley says: “ACE supports in particular the Strategy’s emphasis on the ro
At the right dose, vitamin D is important for bone development and may help protect against the development of several cancers, particularly colorectal cancer. However, large quantities designed to exploit the vitamin’s anticancer properties can lead to a toxic overdose of calcium in the blood. Now, research done at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center indicates that it may be possible to separate the anticancer properties of vitamin D from its other functions.
Scientists at Stanford University have determined that the buildup of sticky mucus found in cystic fibrosis is caused by a loss in the epithelial cell’s ability to secrete fluid. This research appears as the “Paper of the Week” in the March 17 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry, an American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology journal.
Cystic fibrosis is the most common, fatal genetic disease in the United States. It causes the body to produce thick, sticky mucus
In a forthcoming study from the Journal of Consumer Research, researchers from Indiana University explore the process by which consumers evaluate new products, be it a new razor with an unprecedented number of blades or an even mintier chewing gum. The researchers argue that when a multi-product brand – such as Nike, which recently added electronic gadgets to its core of athletic apparel – releases a new product, the consumer’s evaluative process is significantly different than when a brand
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